Splitting the Heavens-Chapter 1825: Terrifying Schemes

After leaving, Shang Xia slipped into a secluded corner and concealed his presence. With a single movement, he appeared in a spot where he could keep an eye on the tavern Manager Hu was stationed.

Roughly half a day later, after confirming that everything in the tavern remained normal, he finally departed the market.

Over the years, Song Zhen had operated covertly in this Starsea Market, and naturally, Manager Hu’s tavern wasn’t the only hidden outpost. But Shang Xia saw no need to verify anything further with the others.

However, just as he stepped beyond the bounds of the market, he vaguely sensed a gaze from behind.

Shang Xia maintained his pace, continuing to ride his Star Ship forward. The gaze behind him lingered briefly before vanishing, only to reappear moments later from another direction. It didn’t persist long, but changed direction again and again. Clearly, whoever it was acted with extreme caution.

His heart sank.

He had masked his presence the entire time and hadn’t acted suspiciously. He didn’t make large purchases and he wasn’t exposed. Why was he being watched?

The only reason was if Manager Hu’s tavern had already been compromised, or if it was under someone else’s control entirely.

Yet Shang Xia had observed the tavern from afar both before entering and after leaving, and hadn’t noticed any signs of surveillance.

Could Manager Hu have deliberately revealed his identity?

That seemed unlikely.

Or perhaps... A Sage far stronger than him had been hiding in the market the whole time. There might also be someone who unleashed a mysterious technique to detect a concealed Sage...

After all, the sea of stars was vast and unpredictable, filled with strange people and stranger techniques. Though Shang Xia prided himself on his ability to conceal his aura and appearance, even he couldn’t guarantee it would work against everything.

If any of those possibilities were true, then his identity might already have been exposed. His movements could easily be tracked and even reported to the Piercing Cloud Bandits, or even worse, to Sage Yuan Ling himself!

As the thought struck him, his gaze sharpened.

If the Three Essence Heavenly Field could become a trending topic across the Chaotic Sea of Stars, then the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field, despite lacking the unique background of the Three Essence Heavenly Field or the legacy of the Star Origin Lord, should not have gone unnoticed as a newly risen Essence World.

For people like Sage Yuan Ling and the Three Fleet Star Pirate Alliance, there was no reason they wouldn’t already know about the Essence Luxuriant World and their guardian, Shang Xia.

Furthermore, Song Zhen had operated in the Starsea Market for years. Anyone who had investigated him should know his background.

The real question came next. The former second-in-command of the Piercing Cloud Bandits and a True Immortal should hold a high position even after the merger into the Three Fleet Star Pirate Alliance. Someone of his standing should absolutely be privy to such information.

So, if he already knew, why stage the whole drama?

The only conclusion Shang Xia could come to was chilling.

The entire event seemed designed not to expose Song Zhen but to target him, a Sage!

But that raised an even deeper concern. Shang Xia’s journey had been a secret. Aside from Kou Chongxue, no one else in the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field should have known his whereabouts.

Where did the leak occur?!

Could it be... Were his identity and movements exposed the moment he entered the very first market in this journey?

That would explain how the Three Fleet Star Pirate Alliance and Sage Yuan Ling had time to set up such an elaborate trap. And if that were the case, there was only one way to verify it, he had to track the fleeing merchant fleet led by Song Zhen and see it for himself.

He might know it was a trap... But was he going to walk straight into it?

His ship picked up speed in the void, answering that question with decisive action.

At the same time, near the edge of the spatial vortex, the merchant fleet under Song Zhen’s command had been reduced to a single large Star Ship and a medium Star Ship. Two other vessels had already been destroyed during the pursuit by the Piercing Cloud Bandits.

Despite their efforts, Song Zhen and Zhu Nang had only managed to rescue fewer than half of the 30-odd Martial Extermination Realm and Martial Dipper Realm cultivators from the various factions of the Essence Luxuriant World who had originally been on board. freewёbnoνel.com

Even on the remaining ships, nearly 10 experts had died in the previous skirmishes. The casualty toll after days of pursuit had reached a staggering 30.

Yet both Song Zhen and Zhu Nang knew the attackers hadn’t truly gone all-out.

The pursuing force, led by Song Zhen’s old acquaintances from the Piercing Cloud Bandits, was overwhelmingly stronger. Gao Takong, now a fifth tier True Immortal, led the charge. The man who’d exposed Song Zhen’s identity was a third tier True Immortal. There were two other second tier True Immortals. Add to that nearly 100 veteran pirates, two large Star Ships, and over a dozen support vessels... By all accounts, it was a force far beyond Song Zhen’s ability to resist.

And yet... They hadn’t finished them off.

Song Zhen was no fool. He knew something was wrong.

Even though he and Zhu Nang had fought tooth and nail, relying on advanced defensive formations to fend off multiple assaults, it felt like the attackers were deliberately holding back.

He recalled that the Piercing Cloud Bandits had only ever possessed a single large Star Ship. Now there were two. Could there be other experts from the Three Fleet Star Pirate Alliance hiding among them?

If so, and if they held absolute advantage, why not crush them completely?

Unless... They had another goal!

During a brief lull between attacks, Song Zhen quickly approached Zhu Nang and shared his suspicions.

Zhu Nang’s face darkened. "You're not wrong. They’re waiting for someone on our side to show up and try to rescue us."

"You mean we’re the bait?" Song Zhen paled. "Someone from the Essence Luxuriant World is already on the way, and they know about it?!”

Zhu Nang nodded gravely. "Let’s hope it’s just another merchant fleet..."

Song Zhen instinctively nodded, but then caught the implication in Zhu Nang’s tone and froze. "Wait, you mean... Could it be..."

Zhu Nang turned to stare toward the spatial vortex. "It’s time to make a decision."

Song Zhen’s expression flickered. Uncertainty flashed in his eyes, and he was torn between his decisions.

Zhu Nang sighed, shattering the last of his hesitation. "No matter who’s coming, don’t forget who’s behind the Piercing Cloud Bandits, or rather, the Three Fleet Star Pirate Alliance. We’re out of options. The spatial vortex has become unstable. Any vessel entering might be swallowed completely. But if we go in now, we might still have a chance. If we linger here... We’re dead."

Those words finally made Song Zhen decide. Grinding his teeth, he issued the order. "Have everyone aboard the Hai Continent abandon the ship and transfer to the You Continent! We’re going into the vortex."

The ‘You Continent’ was the name of his large Star Ship. The Hai Continent was the last medium Star Ships they had.

As the order went out, Zhu Nang visibly relaxed for the first time, exhaling deeply. "Let’s go. It’s time for you and me to face your old friends head-on. They won’t just stand by and let us walk into certain death.”

Song Zhen laughed boldly. A fire that had been smouldering deep in his heart for the longest time was lit, and it burned in his eyes. He gestured to the spatial vortex and growled, After you!”

Zhu Nang did not stand on ceremony. He nodded. “Please. Go ahead as well.”

After speaking, he took a step off the ship.

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